The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-09-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent

, is no secret here of the absolute divorce
of the administration from the uncon-
J genial alliance with the Mugwumps. The
Democracy never meant the union to be
an honorable and lasting one, and the
only matter of establishment is that they
have sojourned together SO long as they
have. The decree of separation has
been issued, and Cleveland leaves the
old lady and the offspring to search and
wander for themselves, while he rushes
over, with all the household effects, to
the out-stretched arms of pure unadult-
Grated, partisan Democracy. 1t is the
old story of promise, infamy and deser-
ton. And perhaps this treatment is
really merited. Certainly it is in per-
feet harmony with the history of the
Democratic party for the past forty years
and more. They are good to promise,
but bad TO redeem. The older readers
of this letter will well remember the
Democratic campaign of Polk, Dallas,
and the tariff of "42" That was the
battle cry then, for Pennsylvania was
necessary to success, and hence they put
Dallas on the ticket, Pennsylvania,
and locked arms with protection, and
won the campaign. What was the re-
suit? Why, the very first session of Con-
gress under the administration of Polk
repealed the tariff of AZ, and that by
the casting vote of Dallas himself There
is no use in multiplying instances since
that time to show the duplicity and per-
fidy of the Democratic party. Its his
tory is blurred from beginning to the
end with just such hypocrisy. 1t is no
better or worse now than forty or TWEEN
ty years ago, and there is no hope of it
being better in the future than in the
past. Professions count for nothing
among thoughtful men, when made by a
party with such a history. But the diff
ficulty heretofore has been that the
thinking comes too late. This is great
misfortune of the Mugwumps They
left the Republican party in fever of
heat because they did not like the Chi
cago nominees, and that was all, and
tramped through the filth of a campaign
over to the Democratic camp and re-
ceived promises of food and shelter in
consideration of their votes that actual
ly elected Cleveland. Now, after two
and a half years of quarrel and conten-
ton, they are unceremoniously pointed
down the back stairs of the executive
mansion. 1t don't seem possible that
there are other discontents that want to
try their hand with Democracy, after
all the teachings of the past.
A new idea has just forced itself to
the front which is making quite COM
motion among numerous department
clerks. The Civil Service Commission,
DESTROYS, DESTROYS of turning the ras-
Gals out" have racked their brains for
every conceivable pretense, and at last
have hit upon an additional device. 1t
has the semblance of fairness and rather
in accord with the Civil Service Law, if
construed as revolutionary in its action.
They hava discovered the momentous
fact that several of the Northern and
Western States have more than their
quota of appointments, while several of
the Southern States have less, and that
several are credited to States who real
ly have no legal residence therein. The
whole thing is to be investigated, and
the surplus cut off, and particularly
those who are wrongly credited. This
of course means Republicans and is re-
Ial ,,,l@ -
make place for administration adher-
ents. 1t looks like pretty small bust
ness, but the pressure is so fearful and
the clamor SO persistent, and the needs
of the confederates so pressing, that
there is scarcely any way of escape, so
the door will be opened, and expert
ence and skill will walk out while in
competency and swagger will stroll in,
and all under the guise of improving
the public service"
More than 80 years ago an eloquent
writer penned these lines: "The Nation
has founded city that bears and will
transmit to posterIty the name of WASH
: ington and his renown. 1t is a living,
intelligent monument of glory, and will
reflect, as it grows in wealth and splen-
dor, the inestimable consequences re-
sulting to the country from his martial
qualities and patriotic virtues" Could
this prophet now view our National
Capitol, from the circling nights of the
northern parts of the District to the riv-
er banks on the south, he would see, as
far as his eyes could reach, ponderous
domes and majestic spires, countless
turrets and roof tops, emerald tinted
parks, massive monuments, and all the
evidences of great and prosperous
city. Everywhere palatial edifices, en-
bodying the highest architectural genius
of the age, would meet the gaze, and,
, grandly towering over all freedoms
effigy can be seen respondent on the
huge white dome of the Nations Capt.
tol. This is the city of Washington, as
it appears to-day, charming city of
parks and palaces and the grand seat of
government of times noblest offspring,
. the United States of America" The
growth and development of Washington
during the past ten wears has been WON
derful. If it continues its Herculean
strides on the path of progress for few
years longer it can boldly challenge
comparison with any city in the world.
Perhaps no one individual has been
more instrumental in making Washing
ton what 1t is than Alexander r. Shop
herd. 1t was he who paved the city, SO
that no city in the world, not excepting
! Paris, has such magnificent, smooth,
i nolseless thoroughfares. Many years
. ago Governor Shepherd predicted that
in 1890 Washington would have 100000
> inhabitants. At that time Washington
: numbered only 100000. The capital
: now has population of about 2S5, 600
u 1t is now universally admitted that the
u conceptions of Governor Shepherd were
worthy of the city planned by the I'M
mortal Washington as fit capital fol
the great republic of which he is called
. the father. In acknowledgment of the
. great services he has rendered the city
. the citizens of Washington propose dur
ing the coming month to give the Gov
Z ernor grand public reception before hi
u departs for his mines in Mexico. Ii
conversation with Gov. Shepherd the
other day he expressed the belief tina
y by 1900 Washington would have l ,0O0, OO'
Inhabitants. He based his estimate,